List of authority figures in wrestling

WWE authority figures

See also: WWE

In the past, WWE's authority figure was presented by the President, who had booking power and controlled all wrestlers. However, in 1997, the President was replaced by the Commissioner, with Sgt. Slaughter serving as the first WWE (or WWF at that time) Commissioner. During the Attitude Era of WWE, not only the Commissioner, but Vince McMahon had booking power as well through his Chairman position under his evil character "Mr. McMahon". McMahon usually used his power in order to haze his (kayfabe) nemesis, Stone Cold Steve Austin. When Shawn Michaels was Commissioner, he was able to overrule McMahon, but he only sporadically exercised his booking power, and was working with an "Iron-Clad" contract where he couldn't be fired. When Mick Foley acquired the position, he took full reign until he was fired from the position. Upon splitting the WWE into two separate brands in the WWE Brand Extension of 2002, on-screen co-owners Vince McMahon and Ric Flair proceeded to draft WWE wrestlers into two separate rosters. Flair took ownership of Raw, while McMahon controlled SmackDown. After McMahon regained control of the entire company, he removed Flair from control of Raw, relinquished his own position, and appointed separate general managers to control the different brands.

On July 18, 2011, Triple H came to Raw and told Vince McMahon that the Board of Directors (kayfabe) revoked his "day-to-day operation power" and named him to manage it instead. After that, Triple H became the WWE's Chief Operating Officer who had the booking power in WWE on both Raw and SmackDown brands until the Board stripped him of his power, and named John Laurinaitis the Interim Raw General Manager.

Chairman

• Vince McMahon, Sr. (1954 – February 21, 1980)
• Vince McMahon (February 21, 1980 – July 22, 2022)

Chief Executive Officer

• Steve Austin (June 7, 1999 - June 27, 1999)¹
• Linda McMahon (September 2, 1999 – September 16, 2009)²
• Vince McMahon (September 16, 2009 – July 22, 2022)

¹ Kayfabe-appointed CEO by Linda McMahon; subsequently lost power in a Ladder match at King of the Ring.

² Linda McMahon gained control after her husband Vince McMahon was barred from appearing on WWF television after Fully Loaded. In real life, Linda McMahon served on the board of directors for WWE from 1980; Vince McMahon appointed her to the position of CEO in 1994 during the WWF steroid scandal.

President

• Willie Gilzenberg (1963– November 15, 1978)
• Hisashi Shinma (1978–1984)
• Jack Tunney (September 1984 - July 12, 1995)
• Gorilla Monsoon (July 12, 1995 – August 3, 1997) (interim from July 12, 1995 to March 31, 1996, when he officially became President)
• Roddy Piper - Interim President (1996) (substitution for an injured Gorilla Monsoon)

Chief Operating Officer

• Triple H (July 18, 2011 – present)
  • Theodore Long - Assistant to the COO (September 5, 2011 - October 10, 2011)

Theodore Long announced that Triple H had given him the power to book Raw when necessary. This arrangement ended when John Laurinaitis became Interim Raw General Manager.

Director of Operations

• Kane (November 4, 2013 – October 25, 2015)

Commissioners

• Sgt. Slaughter (August 4, 1997 - November 23, 1998)
• Shawn Michaels (November 23, 1998 - June 26, 2000)
• Mick Foley¹ (June 26, 2000 - December 18, 2000; October 11, 2001 - November 19, 2001)
  • Debra - Lt. Commissioner - (October 30, 2000 - March 5, 2001)
• William Regal (March 8, 2001 - October 11, 2001)

¹ While Mick Foley was commissioner in 2000, he was the ultimate on-screen authority, overriding everyone else.

Raw authorities

Owners

• Ric Flair (March 18, 2002 - June 10, 2002)
• Vince McMahon (June 10, 2002 - June 15, 2009), (June 22, 2009 – July 22, 2022)
  • Shane McMahon-Executive Vice President (June 10, 2002 - June 22, 2009)¹
• Donald Trump (June 15, 2009 - June 22, 2009)

¹ Shane McMahon made occasional appearances all throughout this time and had booking power.

General Managers

• Eric Bischoff (July 15, 2002 - February 10, 2003)¹, (February 10, 2003 - December 5, 2005)
  • Chief Morley - Chief of Staff (November 25, 2002 - February 10, 2003), (February 17, 2003 - May 5, 2003)
  • Steve Austin - Sheriff (December 29, 2003 - April 17, 2004)
• Steve Austin (April 29, 2003 - November 16, 2003) ²
• Mick Foley (December 1, 2003 - December 15, 2003) ²
• Vince McMahon - Interim General Manager (December 12, 2005 - June 11, 2007)
  • Jonathan Coachman - Executive Assistant (May 29, 2006 - June 11, 2007)
• Jonathan Coachman - Acting/Interim General Manager (June 11, 2007 - August 6, 2007), (September 3, 2007 - October 1, 2007)
• William Regal (August 6, 2007 - May 19, 2008)
  • Jonathan Coachman - Executive Assistant (August 6, 2007 - January 4, 2008)
• Mike Adamle (July 28, 2008 - November 3, 2008)
• Shane McMahon (November 3, 2008 - November 24, 2008)
• Stephanie McMahon (November 24, 2008 - April 6, 2009)
• Vickie Guerrero (April 6, 2009 - June 8, 2009) ³
• Vickie Guerrero (May 10, 2010)
• Bret Hart (May 24, 2010 - June 21, 2010)
• Hornswoggle (Anonymous General Manager) (June 21, 2010 - October 2, 2011) ⁴
  • Michael Cole - Spokesman to the Anonymous General Manager (June 21, 2010 - October 2, 2011)
• John Laurinaitis (October 10, 2011 - June 17, 2012) ⁵
  • David Otunga - Legal Counsel (October 10, 2011 - June 17, 2012)
  • Theodore Long - Assistant to the General Manager (April 3, 2012 - June 17, 2012)
  • Eve Torres - Executive Administrator (April 23, 2012 - June 17, 2012)
• AJ Lee (July 23, 2012 - October 22, 2012)
• Vickie Guerrero - Managing Supervisor (October 22, 2012 - July 8, 2013) ⁶
  • Brad Maddox- Assistant to the Managing Supervisor (February 18, 2013 - July 8, 2013)
• Brad Maddox (July 8, 2013 – May 26, 2014)
• The Authority (May 26, 2014 - June 9, 2014)
• Vickie Guerrero (June 16, 2014 - June 23, 2014)
• The Authority (June 30, 2014 - November 23, 2014)
• Daniel Bryan (November 24, 2014)
• Anonymous Raw General Manager (December 1, 2014)
• Mick Foley (July 18, 2016 - March 20, 2017)
• Kurt Angle (April 3, 2017 - December 17, 2018)
  • Baron Corbin - Constable (June 4, 2018-December 16, 2018);Acting General Manager (August 20,2018-December 16, 2018)
    • Alexa Bliss- Supervisor of the Women's Division (November 26, 2018-December 17, 2018)

¹ Bischoff was briefly fired from the General Manager position on February 10, 2003. He would be rehired by Vince McMahon later that night.

² Austin and Foley served as Co-General Managers with Bischoff during their respective tenures in 2003.

³ On February 23, 2009, the Board of Directors named Vickie Guerrero Interim General Manager when Stephanie McMahon took a leave of absence. She became permanent General Manager on April 6, 2009.

⁴ From July 18, 2011 when Triple H became the WWE's Chief Operating Officer, the Anonymous General Manager had not appeared and used any booking power on Raw, but the General Manager's podium still appeared on Raw every week until Hell in a Cell on October 2, 2011. However, on July 9, 2012, it was finally revealed that Hornswoggle was the anonymous Raw General Manager.

⁵ On October 10, 2011, Vince McMahon returned to Raw and announced that Triple H was relieved of his booking duties by the Board of Directors and that John Laurainatis was the Interim General Manager. He became General Manager on April 1, 2012.

⁶ Guerrero was given the title of Managing Supervisor by the Board of Directors when she regained control of Raw on October 22, 2012.

SmackDown authorities

See also: WWE SmackDown

Owners

• Vince McMahon (March 18, 2002 – July 22, 2022)
  • Stacy Keibler - Personal Assistant (April 11, 2002 - August 12, 2002)
  • Dawn Marie - Legal Assistant (May 30, 2002 - September 26, 2002)

General Managers

• Stephanie McMahon (July 18, 2002 - October 19, 2003)
• Paul Heyman (October 23, 2003 - March 22, 2004)
• Kurt Angle (March 25, 2004 - July 22, 2004)
• Theodore Long (July 29, 2004 - September 21, 2007)
  • Palmer Canon - Network Executive (August 25, 2005 - April 27, 2006)
  • Vickie Guerrero - Assistant General Manager (May 18, 2007 - September 21, 2007)
• Vickie Guerrero (September 28, 2007 - April 6, 2009)
  • Theodore Long - Assistant General Manager (November 30, 2007 - May 16, 2008)
• Theodore Long (April 7, 2009 - April 1, 2012)
  • Vickie Guerrero - Official Consultant (November 20, 2009 - February 25, 2011)
  • Zack Ryder - Assistant to the General Manager (July 29, 2011 – January 6, 2012)
  • Santino Marella - Assistant to the General Manager (January 6, 2012 - April 1, 2012)
• John Laurinaitis (April 1, 2012 - June 17, 2012)
  • David Otunga - Legal Counsel (April 1, 2012 - June 17, 2012)
  • Theodore Long - Assistant to the General Manager (April 3, 2012 - June 17, 2012)
  • Eve Torres - Executive Administrator (April 23, 2012 - June 17, 2012)
• Booker T (July 31, 2012 - July 19, 2013)
  • Theodore Long - Senior Advisor to the General Manager (July 31, 2012 – July 19, 2013)
  • Eve Torres - Assistant to the General Manager (August 17, 2012 - January 14, 2013)
• Vickie Guerrero (July 19, 2013 – June 23, 2014)
• The Authority (June 30, 2014 - November 23, 2014)
• Daniel Bryan (July 18, 2016 - April 10 2018)
• Paige (April 10 2018 - December 18, 2018)

Saturday Morning Slam Authority Figures

See also: WWE Saturday Morning Slam

Owners

• Vince McMahon (August 25, 2012 – May 11, 2013)

General Manager

• Mick Foley (March 16, 2013 - May 11, 2013)

NXT Authority Figures

Host

• Matt Striker (February 23, 2010 - June 13, 2012)
  • Ashley Valence - Co-Host (June 22, 2010– August 31, 2010)
  • Maryse - Co-Host (March 8, 2011– August 24, 2011)

Match Coordinator

• William Regal (February 29, 2012 - June 13, 2012)

General Managers

• Dusty Rhodes (June 20, 2012 - September 12, 2013)
• John Layfield (September 12, 2013 – August 28, 2014)
• William Regal (August 28, 2014 – January 5, 2022)

General Managers:

• Johnny Saint (June 7, 2018 - 2022)

205 Live

General Managers:

• Drake Maverick (January 30, 2018-April 12,2020)
• William Regal (April 12,2020- January 5, 2022)

ECW brand authorities

See also: ECW (WWE)

Owners

• Vince McMahon (June 7, 2006 - February 16, 2010)

General Managers

• Paul Heyman (under the title of ECW Representative) (June 13, 2006 - December 4, 2006)
• Armando Estrada (August 14, 2007 - June 3, 2008)
• Theodore Long (June 3, 2008 - April 7, 2009)
  • Tiffany - Assistant General Manager (June 10, 2008 - April 7, 2009)
• Tiffany (June 30, 2009 - February 16, 2010) ¹

¹ On April 7, 2009, the Board of Directors named Tiffany Interim General Manager when Theodore Long announced his return to SmackDown as General Manager following Vickie Guerrero's appointment as General Manager of Raw. She became permanent General Manager on June 30, 2009.

World Championship Wrestling authority figures

Commissioners

• Kip Allen Frey (Late 1991 - Early 1992)
• Bill Watts (Early 1992 - Early 1993)
• Nick Bockwinkel (January 27, 1994 - June 18, 1995)
• J.J. Dillon (April 21, 1997 - January 3, 2000)
• Terry Funk (January 3, 2000 - January 16, 2000)
• Kevin Nash (January 16, 2000 - February, 2000)
• Ernest Miller (May 31, 2000 - October 29, 2000; January 14, 2001 - February 12, 2001; February 18, 2001 - February 26, 2001)
• Mike Sanders (October 29, 2000 - January 14, 2001)
• Lance Storm (February 12, 2001 - February 18, 2001)
• William Regal (Alliance Commissioner) (October 15, 2001 - November 18, 2001)

Temporary/Honorary Commissioners

• Jeff Jarrett (January 31, 2000 - February 9, 2000)

On-screen presidents

• Eric Bischoff (November 1996 - December 28, 1998)
• Ric Flair (December 28, 1998 - July 19, 1999; October 30, 2000 - March 26, 2001)

On-screen owners

• Shane McMahon (March 26, 2001 - November 19, 2001)

¹ This occurred during The Invasion storyline.

² Appointed acting Commissioner by Kevin Nash while Nash was out with injury.

³ Sting defeated Ric Flair for the presidency July 19, but didn't take the job because he just wanted Flair out of the position rather than wanting the power for himself.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling authority figures

See also: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Directors of Authority

The Director of Authority operated as the on-screen authority-figure for the company

• Erik Watts (July 23, 2003 - January 28, 2004)
• Don Callis (January 28, 2004 - February 4, 2004)
• Jeff Jarrett (February 11, 2004 - February 18, 2004)
• Vince Russo (February 18, 2004 - November 7, 2004)
• Dusty Rhodes (November 7, 2004 - June 17, 2005)

NWA Championship Committee

TNA Wrestling also maintains a championship committee — established in 2004 to help the Director of Authority to book matches and to keep contenders in proper order. The committee members also served as guest judges for TNA Impact! when broadcast by Fox Sports Net, as all matches had a time limit and if the match went to time, a judge had to make the call as to who had won (somewhat as in boxing).

The committee consisted of:

• Dusty Rhodes (founder, original member, November 2004 - June 2005)
• Harley Race (original member, November 2004 - ???)
• Terry Funk (original member, November 2004 - March 2005)
  • Funk never appeared on-screen in TNA
• Roddy Piper (replacement for Funk, March 2005 - ???)
• Larry Zbyszko (original member, November 2004 - 2006)

Management Director

• Jim Cornette (July 16, 2006 - May 21, 2009)
  • Matt Morgan - Bodyguard/Enforcer (August 9, 2007 - April 10, 2008)

President

• Dixie Carter (April 19, 2009 - October 14, 2010), (November 25, 2010 - March 3, 2011), (October 16, 2011 – Present) ¹

• • Mick Foley - Executive Shareholder (October 23, 2008 - January 4, 2010)
  • Hulk Hogan - Managing Partner (January 4, 2010 - October 14, 2010)
  • Rockstar Spud - Chief of Staff (November 22, 2013 – March 9, 2014)
• Hulk Hogan - (October 14, 2010 - November 25, 2010), (March 3, 2011 – October 16, 2011)²

• • Mick Foley - Network Consultant (May 3, 2011 - June 2, 2011)

¹ Dixie Carter has been legitimately TNA President since 2003 after Panda Energy International became majority shareholder of TNA. However, she began to have an on-screen role in 2009.

²Hulk Hogan was (storyline) President from October 2010 to October 2011 after Carter unknowingly signed her power away to him in a contract. Carter was re-established as on-screen President following Sting defeating Hogan at Bound For Glory.

Executive Producer

• Eric Bischoff (January 4, 2010 - October 16, 2011)
  • Ms. Tessmacher - Executive Assistant (April 28, 2010 - September 20, 2010)

General Manager

• Sting (October 20, 2011 - March 22, 2012)
• Hulk Hogan (March 29, 2012 - October 3, 2013)
• Bully Ray (July 15, 2015 – August 5, 2015)
• Jeff Jarrett (August 12, 2015 – September 16, 2015)
• Ethan Carter III (July 8, 2015, May 31, 2016)

Mystery Investor

• MVP (January 30, 2014 – March 9, 2014)

Director of Wrestling Operations

• MVP (March 9, 2014 - June 19, 2014) ¹
• Kurt Angle (June 19, 2014 – September 21, 2014)

¹As a result of the outcome of the Lethal Lockdown match at Lockdown, MVP partly took control of TNA as the (storyline) Director of Wrestling Operations.

Knockouts Division

• Traci Brooks - Commissioner (August 28, 2008 - January 2009)
• Ms. Tessmacher - General Manager (September 20, 2010 - October 14, 2010)
• Karen Jarrett - Executive VP (September 1, 2011 - December 15, 2011)
  • Traci Brooks - Executive Assistant (September 1, 2011 – December 15, 2011)
• Brooke Hogan - Executive (May 31, 2012 - August 16, 2013)
• Maria Kanellis - Leader of the Knockouts (April 19, 2016 – October 13, 2016)¹
  • Allie - Apprentice (May, 2016 – October 13, 2016)
  • Sienna - Bodyguard/Enforcer (May, 2016 – October 13, 2016)

Xplosion Commissioner

• Desmond Wolfe - (May 16, 2011 - June 16, 2011)

Ring of Honor authority figures

• Jim Cornette – Commissioner (October 2, 2005 – November 4, 2006)
• Ric Flair – ROH Ambassador (April 5, 2009 – May 30, 2009)
• Jim Cornette – Executive Producer (September 26, 2009 – October 13, 2012)
• Nigel McGuinness – Match-coordinator (November 3, 2012 – December 15, 2016)

IWA authority figures

• Savio Vega, General Manager (2001 - 2006)
• Orlando Toledo, General Manager (2006 - ?)
• Joe Bravo, General Manager (c. 2010)

Reality of Wrestling authority figures

• Teddy Long, General Manager

See also

• List of professional wrestlers